Log-splitting gun



Jan. 7, 1930. T. BERG LOG SPLITTING GUN Filed April 5, 1927 gwuenioz atfoumq Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATENT QFFICE THORVALID BERG, OF PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON LOG-SPLITTING GUN Application filed April 5,

My invention aims to provide an improved gun for splitting logs by means of explosives, particularly adapted for splitting pulp wood.

Among the objects of this invention are to prevent deformation of the gun when repeatedly hammered into logs, to prevent entrance of water and dirt into the vent and to enable the vent to be readily cleaned or renewed.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, it being contemplated that the characteristic features of my invention may be applied in other forms than that shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longtiudinal cross section; and

Fig. 2 is a side view in perspective of my improved log splitting gun.

My splitting gun consists of a barrel comprising, successively, a tapered muzzle 12, a cylindrical chase 13, a taper 14 to the breech portion, and a cylindrical breech portion 15. The tapered muzzle increases rearwardly from a diameter slightly larger than that of the bore to the diameter of the cylindrical chase 13, and the second conical portion or breech taper 14 is near the rear end of the chase, whereby the barrel is enlarged to the diameter of the breech portion 15.

The bore 16 of the gun extends back from the muzzle about three-fourths of the length of the barrel, this type of gun being a muzzleloader. Near the inner end of the bore a radial internally-threaded vent hole 17 com- 1927. Serial No. 181,207.

bushing has an enlarged head 22 adapted to project abovethe outer surface of the barrel, and the breech portion 15' is flattened immediately behind the breech taper lto provide a seat 27 for the head 22.

A driving head 23 of hard wood, one end being of a diameter to fit the breech recess 18, the other end being enlarged, with shoulders 24:. to fit the edge of the breech recess, is provided to. take the blows of a hammer when the gun is driven into a log, thus preventing deformation of the metal. The rear end of this driving head is. preferably reinforced by an iron band 25 to prevent splitting, while a set screw 26 or other suitable retaining means passing through a hole in the wall. of the breech recess holds the driving head from falling out.

In operation, the gun is loaded from the muzzlewith a powder charge and a wad, and is thendriven into the log by a sledge hammen, after the manner of a wedge, with the vent preferably upward. The tapered muzzle 12 facilitates driving the barrelinto a log, especially of soft wood, without first boring a hole. The breech taper 14 and the protrud ing head 22 of the vent bushing 19 prevent water from the log, which may run along the chase, from entering the vent and wetting the powder charge. hen the charge is fired by a fuse inserted in the hole 21 the log is split by the force of the explosion, and the gun is freed therefrom.

The barrel is simple and strong, and nothing about it is easily broken or deranged. The vent plug may be removed readily for cleaning or replacement and the wood head likewise may readily be replaced when battered from use.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, without restricting the invention thereto what I claim is as follows:

1. In a log splitting gun, in combination, a barrel having a tapered muzzle, a cylindrical chase, a breech taper, an enlarged cylindrical solid breech, a removable driving head, a recess in said breech adapted to receive said driving head, a bore, a vent hole extending from said bore to the outer surface of said breech cylinder, and a removable vent bushing, one end of said bushing being adapted to project above the outer surface of said breech cylinder.

2. In a gun adapted to be hammered into wet logs, in combination, a tapered muzzle portion adapted, when driven in, to wedge apart the fibers of a log, a cylindrical chase adapted to engage said fibers without further Wedging, an enlarged breech, an enlarged axial recess in the rear of said breech, a charge-receiving bore from said muzzle terminating in said breech, a vent hole from the rear of said bore to thesurface of said breech, said breech enlargementbeing adapted to prevent the flow of water along the surface of said gun into said vent hole, and a driving head fitting the axial recess in said breech and projecting therefrom, said driving head being adapted to transmit the shock of ham- 2 mer blows to said breech-and protect said breech from being deformed thereby.

3. A log splitting gun adapted to be driven horizontally into a log, comprising, a shaft which is from muzzle to breech externally .successively outwardly tapered, cylindrical,

further tapered outwardly, and again cylindrical, an axial cylindrical bore therein extending from muzzle to within the second cylindrical portion, a lateral hole from the rear of said bore to the surface of said second cylindrical portion, a vent plug in said hole having an external headelevated above the surface of said second cylindrical portion,

a larger relatively shallow bore from the rear v of said second cylindrical portion, a solid Wall between the bottoms of the two said bores, and an impact receiving plug within said second bore.

4. A log splitting gun adapted to be driven horizontally into a log, comprising, a shaft which is from muzzle to breech externally successively outwardly tapered, cylindrical, further tapered outwardly, and again cylindrical, an axial bore therein extending from muzzle to within the second cylindrical portion, a larger relatively shallow bore from the rear of said second cylindrical portion, a solid wall between the bottoms of the two said bores, and an impact receiving plug within said second bore.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

TI-IORVALD BERG. v 

